Greece to renovate seven Athonite monasteries

Greece will finance seven key infrastructure projects on Mount Athos through the Human Resources and Infrastructure Development Operational Programme. The projects will cover the monasteries of Karakal, Koutloumous, Xenophon, Great Lavra, Simonopetra and Saint Paul, with a total budget of EUR 5.3 million. Activities include the restoration of main buildings, the strengthening of retaining walls, the conversion of old premises into icon painting and sewing studios, and the creation of spaces for elderly care. In particular, the Catholicon and the tower of the Karakal Monastery, part of the western wing of Koutloumous, will be restored, a wing of the Xenophon Monastery will be built, and the Assumption of the Virgin cell in the St. Anna Skete will be restored. The old oil mill in the Simonopetra Monastery will be converted into an exhibition space and a mezzanine for icon painting and sewing studios will be built. In one of the wings of “St. Paul” will be created premises for elderly care.

The projects aim to protect and preserve the unique cultural and spiritual heritage of Athos: “The holy monasteries, hermitages and cells represent a monumental wealth that belongs to us all. With these projects we make the buildings safe and functional, both for the monks and for the millions of believers from all over the world,” said the regional governor of the Central Macedonia region, Athina Aidona.

Illustrative photo: pexels-my-photos-50266345-8007968